Vandalia extends law firm’s option to buy old Morton school site

RWS Torts LLC has already purchased other land in the city.

Vandalia city officials are still hopeful that a law firm in the city will purchase a now vacant 10-acre tract on National Road that used to be the site of Morton Middle School.

The law firm, RWS Torts LLC., would buy the land from the city for about $40,000 an acre and possibly build on the site, said Assistant City Manager Greg Shackelford.

The Vandalia City Council at its meeting Monday night granted the firm’s request that its option to purchase the site be extended until the end of February. The school has been demolished and the city would like to find a use for the tract.

The firm, which has 20 attorneys in offices here and in Cincinnati and Cleveland, has already purchased another building in Vandalia to move its offices in the city but could still buy the land in the 300 block of National Road, Shackelford said.

In other council action, council members voted to allow Manufactured Assemblies Corporation, or MAC, to use a 3.4 acre parcel of land it acquired to expand parking at the manufacturing facility.

The parking lot at the plant, 1625 Fieldstone Way, is too small to accommodate all the employees. Additional hires have led to employees having to park on the street. MAC, which makes cable assemblies and wire harnesses, was established in 1976.

Vandalia residents will see a new look when it comes to their utility bills mailed to them. The council awarded a contract to Smartbill Ltd. for $39,012 to print and mail the utility bills.

Instead of the post cards that ratepayers have received, they’ll soon be receiving an 8.5 x 11 page that will break down the charges for water and sewer expenses. With the new format, the city will be able to add messages to residents.

“We always had the postcard, but what we have found is that reaching people through the bills is a good way to get information out. This gives us more flexibility to reach residents with our bills,” said Rich Hopkins, Communications Manager for the city.